Unlike in other years, the influenza epidemic was relatively short and of low intensity. This is the report that the Institute for Sanitary Watch has just drawn up for the year 2013-2014.
At the end of March, the Sentinelles-INSERM network announced the complete end of the flu epidemic in France. Even if a few cases of influenza are still to be reported across the territory … For the last influenza surveillance bulletin of the season, the InVS has decided to take stock of the influenza epidemic for the 2013-2014 season. Unlike last year, its duration is much more limited and its intensity too.
A small flu epidemic
As the InVS notes, this year, the flu had a much smaller impact on the population than last year. During the 2012-2013 season, the InVS observed that the influenza epidemic had been the longest ever since the start of monitoring in 1984. In total, it lasted 13 weeks. This year, the InVS announces that the influenza epidemic lasted only 7 weeks, below the average of 9 weeks. The InVS speaks of an epidemic “of low intensity and short duration”. For the moment, the InVS does not give a precise number when to people who have suffered from the flu since the start of the season. Since there was an observation of the influenza epidemic, the Sentinels network estimates that there are on average 2,470,000 cases each year. For this season and in view of the intensity of the epidemic, the figure should oscillate between 1 and 2 million cases.
Figures contradicting forecasts
These figures undermine the alarmist forecasts made last December. After the influenza epidemic of the southern winter of 2013 in the French overseas departments and territories, teams from the Saint-Denis University Hospital in Reunion Island analyzed the various cases of influenza. They had observed an upsurge in cases of H1N1 flu. This analysis had been taken seriously by the health authorities. In fact, since the 2009 pandemic, influenza surveillance networks have been watching closely what is happening in our overseas departments. And for four years, the characteristics of the flu observed in Reunion are found six months later in France. This year is therefore an exception to the rule.
Vigilance remains essential
In its report, the InVS indicates that it observes sporadic peaks of viruses in the population. Nursing homes remain affected by the flu. He notes that 6 new outbreaks of influenza were discovered last week and therefore encourages us to remain vigilant in the face of influenza, particularly for the elderly who are much more vulnerable to influenza.
For the week of April 7 to 15, the incidence rate of cases of influenza syndromes seen in general medicine consultation was estimated at 52 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, ie well below the epidemic threshold of 130 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
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